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flying home with my cat - 1st time ever!

post #1 of 17
1/8/10 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 
Hello!
I have been working in Japan now for about two years and I have decided to return home to Canada in March(Narita to Edmonton). During the summer I ended up picking up a stray 3 month old kitten (Loki), he is now 7 months, and I want to take him home with me. I have already booked my flight home and registered him with the airlines(Air Canada) but I am full of worries about flying home with Loki.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to travel and fly with a cat?

I have never ever done this before and I don't even know where to begin getting Loki ready for our big trip home. I bought him a soft carry case and that is as much as I have done so far. Loki over all driving in the car is not to bad but he just cries and cries the whole drive. This is one of my many worries is will he cry and cry the whole plane ride home?

Any advice would be great!

Thank you
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post #2 of 17
1/8/10 at 11:26pm
So... He is coming in the cabin with you all the way from Japan to Canada? Are you positive about that?
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post #3 of 17
1/8/10 at 11:43pm
Thread Starter 
Positive?? Well I am sure that I want Loki to come home with me. I took him in he is now my responsibility. Am I doing something wrong? Is it a bad thing that I want to bring my cat home with me? I assumed it was best to have him travel with me in the cabin, should I put him in the under carriage?
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post #4 of 17
1/8/10 at 11:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lovemusic View Post
Positive?? Well I am sure that I want Loki to come home with me. I took him in he is now my responsibility. Am I doing something wrong? Is it a bad thing that I want to bring my cat home with me? I assumed it was best to have him travel with me in the cabin, should I put him in the under carriage?
No, no, not at all... It is not that... Of course you should bring him with you, I would never leave my kitties behind either.
BUT - you better call the airlines... you are assuming something that IMO is not correct... In international flights they do fly cargo, and in this case you need a different carrier. Don't assume ANYTHING.
Call the airlines - they will tell you in details.
Also, go to the department of health (Canada) and see everything you need as far as documentation for your kitty...

ETA: And you will probably have to buy him a ticket too...
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post #5 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:11am
Thread Starter 
Oh really!? I did call the Air Canada (the airlines I am flying) as I had to tell them I wanted to fly home with my cat after I booked my ticket online. The lady I talked didn't say there was a problem with him being in the cabin with me and I paid the fee to have Loki ride with me in the cabin. So to my understanding airlines wise Loki is sent to go, but it's the actual traveling that I need help with.
Like he cries and cries when he is driving with me does that mean he might cry the whole flight?
How do I make sure he is comfortable as possible while riding on the plane?
What about food, water and bathroom? The lady from the airlines said I can't give him any food or water during the flight.
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post #6 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:14am
Ok, so.... I checked Air Canada, and they DO allow you to bring cats in the cabin AWESOME!
Sorry about that
You can talk to your vet about a tranquilizer, since she will be in the cabin with you, and not on cargo... It is not recommended for cargo, but for cabin I think it might be ok... That should put her to sleep during the flight.
There are things you can use too, like I am not sure if you can get pheromone sprays in there? Like Feliway? That would help a a lot...
How long is the flight?
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post #7 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
Okay, I will for sure ask my Vet here in Japan about some kind of tranquilizer.
My flight from Narita to Vancouver is 9hrs give or take and then the flight from Vancouver to Edmonton is just an hour and a half. I have left 3hrs between by two flights so Loki and have some time the stretch his legs.

I just remembered I pick up at the local pet store back home in Canada(I was there with out Loki over the Christmas holidays) a Anxiety Relief drops that the pet shop lady said might be a good thing to have - but she said that she had no idea if it would really work as she has never flew with a pet. http://www.homeopet.com/
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post #8 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:36am
I would not give a tranquilliser at all, in many cases it makes them even more agitated so many vets won't give them for this reason.

I would put him in cargo, because the carriers have to be so small to fit under the seat and it's a long flight. In cargo they are in a regular size hard carrier.
Cats are not allowed on board over here, many people put a lambs wool blanket or puppy pee pads in the carrier since they can't use a litter pan.
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post #9 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:42am
As far as food and water, it sounds right... I wouldn't give it to her prior to the flight either - there are breeders in here that ship their kittens, lets see if they can help you...

Now you also want to take the trauma away from the carrier. Make her associate the carrier with good things. Leave the open carrier close to where she likes to sleep, and put one of your used t-shirts or pajamas in it. Put treats inside of it. Let her stay there, sleep in there... Every time she goes in, give her a treat.

In a week or so, Put her inside, and take her to the car. Don't turn on the car, just stay there with her. Bring her back, put the carrier where it was, open it, and make sure to give her lots of treats...
Do this again for a few more days...
Then take her to the car, and turn on the car... Do that for a few days....
Always followed by treats...
Then Go to small rides, then a little longer... then longer....
Do the gradual process.
What you are doing here is taking away her fear of the carrier, and making her associate with a good thing, or with nothing at all...
Cats associate carriers with vets and bad stuff... By doing the above, by the time your trip comes, she will not care for the carrier nearly as much...
after all, you are teaching her nothing bad will happen to her when she goes in the carrier
If she learns quicker... do it quicker! Follow her lead!
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post #10 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
I would not give a tranquilliser at all, in many cases it makes them even more agitated so many vets won't give them for this reason.

I would put him in cargo, because the carriers have to be so small to fit under the seat and it's a long flight. In cargo they are in a regular size hard carrier.
Cats are not allowed on board over here, many people put a lambs wool blanket or puppy pee pads in the carrier since they can't use a litter pan.
Air Canada has seasonal restriction for pets traveling in cargo.
"Winter restrictions
November 1 to March 31 and at any other time when temperature is 0 °C (32 °F) and below.Pets as checked baggage. Cats and dogs weighing less than 4.5 kg (10 lb) are not accepted in the baggage compartment of any of our aircraft during the winter season."
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post #11 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
I would not give a tranquilliser at all, in many cases it makes them even more agitated so many vets won't give them for this reason.
Well, he always ask his vet for an extra dose to try on his cat prior to the flight, correct?
I am with you IF shipping cargo - I would NEVER give a tranquilizer on cargo, but on cabin I would... BUT, you bring an Excellent point... I would try the effects first before the trip.

Missymotus: What about his question in Re. to food and water - do you know anything? How long prior to the flight do you feed? Is there a concern with nausea? Or it is just to avoid bathroom going?
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post #12 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
As far as food and water, it sounds right... I wouldn't give it to her prior to the flight either - there are breeders in here that ship their kittens, lets see if they can help you...

Now you also want to take the trauma away from the carrier. Make her associate the carrier with good things. Leave the open carrier close to where she likes to sleep, and put one of your used t-shirts or pajamas in it. Put treats inside of it. Let her stay there, sleep in there... Every time she goes in, give her a treat.

In a week or so, Put her inside, and take her to the car. Don't turn on the car, just stay there with her. Bring her back, put the carrier where it was, open it, and make sure to give her lots of treats...
Do this again for a few more days...
Then take her to the car, and turn on the car... Do that for a few days....
Always followed by treats...
Then Go to small rides, then a little longer... then longer....
Do the gradual process.
What you are doing here is taking away her fear of the carrier, and making her associate with a good thing, or with nothing at all...
Cats associate carriers with vets and bad stuff... By doing the above, by the time your trip comes, she will not care for the carrier nearly as much...
after all, you are teaching her nothing bad will happen to her when she goes in the carrier
If she learns quicker... do it quicker! Follow her lead!
Okay that sounds like something I can do. I will only be able to do the car stuff during the weekends as I work during the week but defiantly do-able in the end. I always leave his carrier out and open for him to go in, in the living room, if he likes and that all. Loki likes to sleep with me but I can move the carrier near the bed at night.
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post #13 of 17
1/9/10 at 12:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
Missymotus: What about his question in Re. to food and water - do you know anything? How long prior to the flight do you feed? Is there a concern with nausea? Or it is just to avoid bathroom going?
Most give dinner the night before but no breakfast the morning of the trip. Water is left out all night.

My cats had much shorter flights and spent about 7 hours in their carriers from breeders house/airport/flight/my house, only one wet herself and they were all young 12 week old kittens.

I was warned Demetri might sick up since he got into some food before his flight but he was fine.
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post #14 of 17
1/11/10 at 11:14pm
It's my understanding that cats are not allowed to fly cabin in Japan at all, so any flights going to/from Japan they would have to ride in cargo.

Also you need a health certificate. Rabies vaccination if required by your landing destination may be hard as all the Vets I've talked to over here aside from the US military base ones don't have feline rabies vaccines.

Also here in Okinawa you have to do an exit process with Japanese quarrantine (just paperwork) but you ahve to make a seperate visit to their office before you take off.

Good luck! I'm going to have to do this to Aya at some point in the future too.
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post #15 of 17
1/12/10 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyrajean View Post
It's my understanding that cats are not allowed to fly cabin in Japan at all, so any flights going to/from Japan they would have to ride in cargo.

Also you need a health certificate. Rabies vaccination if required by your landing destination may be hard as all the Vets I've talked to over here aside from the US military base ones don't have feline rabies vaccines.

Also here in Okinawa you have to do an exit process with Japanese quarrantine (just paperwork) but you ahve to make a seperate visit to their office before you take off.

Good luck! I'm going to have to do this to Aya at some point in the future too.

As I have said before my cat is all cleared to fly to what I what I know. I have told Air Canada that I am flying with him and paid for him to ride with me in the cabin. Air Canada has never said anything about cats not being allowed to fly cabin from Japan(I am flying from Narita).

Where did you get all your information from?
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post #16 of 17
1/12/10 at 5:20pm
This is the website of the US military based rescue organization. They are trying to keep US military personnel from abandoning their pets on island. This is their pet travel page. Obviously the destination is the US not Canada, and the military related info is not needed, but a lot of the information is still useful.

http://www.oaars.org/pettravel.html
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post #17 of 17
1/19/10 at 9:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
Most give dinner the night before but no breakfast the morning of the trip. Water is left out all night.

My cats had much shorter flights and spent about 7 hours in their carriers from breeders house/airport/flight/my house, only one wet herself and they were all young 12 week old kittens.
.
I am pretty much traveling all day long. It takes me 4 hours to get to the airport here in Japan, then the 9 hrs flight to Canada, then another hour and a half flight and then a 3 hour car ride till we are actually home. So should I really not be giving my cat food and water at all the day we are traveling? Isn't that a little mean?
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